Maersk and China Railway Jinan Group join forces on New Silk Road
Maersk and China Railway Jinan Bureau Group have agreed to work together in setting up a rail transportation network. To be more precise, the two sides hope to develop and operate the railway logistics hubs and terminals of the Jinan-based group together. They signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with this aim on 21 January.
The agreement aims to give full play to both parties’ resource advantages, promoting win-win cooperation and providing inland import and export enterprises with more convenient and more environmentally friendly supply chain logistics services. Moreover, it will cover inland sea-rail operations in China’s Shangdong province, on the east coast.
China in the spotlight
Maersk considers China to be one of the most important markets globally and continuously strives to grow its business there. Only in the last two years, the company has opened thirty-five railway terminals in inland China, out of which twenty-five can provide bill of lading services. With the new MOU, Maersk focuses on expanding its services using China Railway Jinan Group’s logistics hubs and network in Shangdong’s province. For this purpose, the two companies will develop a joint task force to explore new modes of cooperation.
“Maersk is committed to becoming a global integrated container shipping and logistics company, focusing on customers and providing all-round, digital, end-to-end logistics solutions. We extend the advantages of ocean transportation services to the inland, and vigorously develop logistics supply chain services, including multimodal transportation”, said Lin Ping, Director of Product and Digital Innovation of Maersk Greater China.
Long cooperation
Railway Jinan Group has always been an essential partner of Maersk in China. The new agreement and the inland logistics market’s collaborative development, can further expand their cooperation’s depth.
Besides, Maersk’s Shandong hinterland rail-sea intermodal transportation products will also be optimised and upgraded to meet inland customers’ needs for convenient, smooth and high-quality logistics services. The use of the through bill of lading can shorten the cargo ownership transfer period reduce the time for customers to pick up shipments and reduce their expenses.
